NEWS

Reflections on a distressing week

What we know:

• There are an increasing number of children living in institutions / asylums (Children’s commissioner – Monday)
• People living in institutions / asylums are subject to shocking levels of restraint (CQC – Tuesday)
• People with learning disabilities continue to die prematurely and unnecessarily (LeDeR – Tuesday)
• People living in institutions are at significantly increased risk of physical, psychological and emotional abuse (BBC – Wednesday)

What can we conclude?

• We fail to protect the fundamental human rights of the most vulnerable people in society
• We have an over-reliance on highly restrictive institutionalised models of care
• People with learning disabilities and/or autism are routinely discriminated against
• The education, health and care system fails to make reasonable adjustments

There is an urgent need for change to create a more integrated system. There are many committed people that are keen to work together to prevent such abuse and develop a better system. I am calling on Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education, and Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health to bring all these people together. Let’s combine our efforts so we can work together to create a more humane society.

Ben Higgins, CEO, BILD